Lillie Otilia Gunlock

RONAN — Lillie Otilia Gunlock, 93, peacefully joined her Heavenly Father and beloved husband Harold in the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday morning, Dec. 30, 2006. She spent the last few weeks of her life at the St. Luke Community Extended Care Center in Ronan and the last year and a half at the St. Joseph Retirement Community in Polson. She had been a resident of the Mission Valley for more than 50 years.

Born Lillie Otilia Arneson on Nov. 11, 1915, at Larson, N.D., she was the daughter of Bernt and Matilda (Nelson) Arneson, and the youngest of six daughters. Her mother died in childbirth with her infant brother when Lillie was three years old.

She was raised on the family farm by her father, older sisters and neighbors. She received her education in the one-room school house she attended with her childhood friend and future husband, Harold Gunlock. They were married on July 1, 1936. (Harold died on March 6, 2006, just a few months before their 70th wedding anniversary).

Lillie and Harold settled in the Columbus, N.D., area where they raised dairy cows and dryland farmed. They made the big move to Montana in 1954, settling in the Post Creek area on Marsh Creek Rd. near St. Ignatius. They ran a dairy farm there for over 40 years, dryland farmed, and raised beef cattle and Percheron horses before selling the home place and retiring in the Polson area.

Lillie spent many years cooking for numerous businesses and individuals, but her fondest memories were at the Allentown Restaurant (now the Ninepipes Lodge), where she spent many years as their baker. Her mouth-watering sourdough biscuit recipe is still a favorite on the Ninepipes Restaurant dinner tables.

Anyone who stopped at the ranch for coffee and a visit was always guaranteed some delicious goodie to go with it. Lillie thoroughly enjoyed her coffee, home-baked cookies, and chocolate. She continued to be a homemaker and cooked for her husband until a year and a half ago when she moved to St. Joseph Retirement Community and decided to "hang up the apron," and enjoy someone else's culinary skills.

An honest, hard worker with a never-ending positive attitude, Lillie had a beautiful warm smile, a twinkle in her eyes, quick wit, and sharp mind up until her recent illness. She accepted all her life challenges with dignity and grace. She loved to play games, especially cards. She took great pride in an immaculate home and her beautiful flower gardens and well-groomed lawn. She was still mowing grass with a push mower at age 89.

She was very proud of her family and loved spending time with them. She boasted 10 great-grandchildren. Our beloved mom, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt and friend shall be greatly missed by all those who had the privilege of her touching their lives in her own special way.

Lillie, the sole survivor of her birth family, was preceded in death by her beloved husband Harold; her parents; infant brothers; five sisters, Esther, Edna, Gladys, Myrtle and Alma (formerly Alma Gunlock of St. Ignatius), and other out-of-state relatives and friends.

Lillie is survived by her three children, sons Eugene Gunlock (Esther Anne) and Darren Gunlock (Debbie), all of Polson; daughter Sandra Gunlock Baker (Robin) of Lehi, Utah; eight grandchildren, Dan Gunlock (Jamie) of Clinton, Shelly Buhr (Jamie) of Ronan, Sheri Kennedy (Rob) of Riverton, Utah, Troy Gunlock (Cortnee) of Kalispell, Trevor Gunlock of Missoula, Brook Gunlock of Orem, Utah, Shane and Courtney Baker of Lehi; 10 great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Dillon Gunlock of Clinton, Allyson and Lauryn Burh of Ronan, Alexandra Baker of Lehi, Aubrey, Jordan, Dalan and Madison Kennedy of Riverton, and Braeden Gunlock of Kalispell; nieces, Joyce Gustafson (Claude) of Kalispell, Arlene Wells of Williston, N.D.; nephew Wallace Carlstad (Eunice) of Williston; brothers-in-law, Wayne Gunlock of St. Ignatius, Merle Gunlock of Wiliston, Leland Anderson (JoAnn) of Burbank, Calif.; Clarence Anderson (Betty) of Anchorage, Alaska,; sister-in-law and beloved best friend, Phyllis Holte (Dale) of Hayden Lake, Idaho; numerous out-of-state nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

The family acknowledges the devoted and loving care of the staff at Lake County Hospice (especially Lynda Edwards and Awnie Fought), St. Luke Community Hospital Extended Care Center, St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph Retirement Community, Dr. Craig Panos and Dr. Hikmat Maaliki. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate Lillie's life will be Saturday, Jan 27, at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Retirement Community, 11 17th Ave. E., Polson. Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services of Ronan has assisted with arrangements and cremation.

The family has requested memorials be sent to Lake County Hospice, 711 Main St. SW, Ronan, MT 59864.